Designer bathroom furniture can be a huge upgrade during a remodel, with a new bathroom vanity serving as the centerpiece. A beautiful vanity is a visual focal point, and a high-quality vanity also provides practical features like essential bathroom storage.
During the design phase of a bathroom remodel, you'll have the opportunity to look at a wide range of vanities. In this post, I want to introduce one option that's worthy of your consideration: a bathroom vanity with one or more tall cabinets.
This type of vanity can deliver ample storage and a sense of gravitas. In this post, I'll show a few examples of bathroom vanities with tall cabinets and review some of the pros and cons of this style of vanity.
This homeowner in Saddleridge wanted a new bathroom with a spacious design and sophisticated appeal, so we installed an extended double vanity with two sets of tall cabinets along with a tall linen closet.
This vanity is expertly crafted with premium materials to suit this sizable bathroom space. The tall cabinets act as bookends, giving each person ample storage space. However, the cabinet component doesn't take up all of the space between the countertop and the ceiling. Instead, there are three small, soft-close drawers underneath the cabinet.
With less height, these drawers are great for staying organized and storing smaller items. The drawer fronts have pulls instead of knobs, creating a touch of contrast with the drawers just beneath the counter.
The tall cabinets give the bathroom vanity a greater sense of structure and presence, enhancing the timeless design sensibility fostered by this remodel.
For this remodel, our client had less space to work with but still wanted a double vanity with a modern style. To optimize the layout, we installed a vanity with a cultured marble countertop, two ceramic undermount sinks, gold-finished hardware, and a tall cabinet on just one side. That cabinet functions as a linen closet, but it also creates a barrier for the toilet, providing a touch of privacy without having to install a pony wall or other divider.
The cabinet has two compartments, each of which has two cabinet doors that swing open. The vanity itself also has spacious drawers, which, combined with the cabinet, offer practical storage for everyday use. Another modern convenience: outlets are easily accessible on each side of the vanity.
For this remodel, we installed a double vanity that, due to the space constraints of this smaller bathroom, had to be relatively shallow and compact. But this didn't rule out the tall cabinet option; instead, we created a single tall cabinet with a narrow design.
While it's not a huge amount of storage, it functions as an extra-large medicine cabinet for bathroom essentials. The cabinet helps break up the two sides of the vanity (each with rectangular sinks) without making the space feel cramped, and it doesn't quite reach the ceiling, allowing the tile backsplash to bring the entire area together.
Our client wanted the look of a timeless classic, so we opted for a wood finish for the vanity and cabinet. You can opt for a solid wood frame or engineered wood, depending on your preferences for style, budget, and moisture resistance.
Tall cabinets work best in spaces where they can draw attention but not feel overwhelming. We tend to prefer them in a main bathroom, but they can also work in smaller spaces like a guest bath, especially since they create extra storage for towels and linens. We typically avoid tall cabinets in powder rooms where space is at a premium and storage needs are reduced.
In our experience, tall cabinets look better in rooms with higher ceilings and as part of a double vanity setup. While you can find ways to make tall cabinets work with a single vanity, there's a higher risk of the cabinet feeling like overkill.
Overall, though, it's all about customization. Whether a tall cabinet makes sense depends on your home, your needs, and your vision, and a skilled interior designer can identify what type of vanity is the best fit.
For a bathroom vanity, tall cabinets offer a number of benefits:
Generous storage: A tall cabinet provides ample space to meet your bathroom storage needs, from towels to makeup to cleaning supplies.
Visual appeal: With its height and volume, a tall cabinet serves as a center of visual interest. You can choose one that has a distinct look or "pop," or choose one that seamlessly blends in with the rest of the color scheme of your bathroom and vanity.
Design options: A tall cabinet doesn't have to just be a cabinet. It can be designed with different compartments, including cabinets and drawers of different sizes. You can also include additional features for internal organization, like drawer dividers and adjustable shelves.
Bathroom vanities with tall cabinets have their appeal, but the have certain drawbacks that make it so they aren't a must-have addition in every remodel.
Can dominate the space: If you have a small bathroom, a tall cabinet may take over the space, making things feel tight or cramped. This is especially true if you have just a single bathroom vanity instead of a vanity with two sinks.
Clash with some vanities: Not every vanity looks good with a tall cabinet. For example, we don't usually recommend tall cabinets if you want a freestanding vanity set.
Weight: Adding a large cabinet can make a vanity extremely heavy, especially if it is made of solid wood construction. This can complicate the installation process and may require additional anchoring or reinforcement.
Cost: Adding a cabinet makes a vanity more expensive, adding to your remodeling budget.
At Hogan Design and Construction, we don't do copy-and-paste remodeling. Instead, we create tailored solutions that last a lifetime.
We are a design-build firm, meaning we coordinate every step of the remodeling process, including custom design, expert construction, and professional installation. Whether you're sprucing up a hall bath or removing walls to open up ample room for a new primary suite, we have the expertise and track record to make your project a success.
We invite you to learn more about our team, take a look at our portfolio, and contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your remodeling plans.